Flow guard for manifold



United States Patent 3,530,839

[72] Inventor Walter C. Avrea [56] References Cited Placenztia, California UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 APPLNO- 710,33 1,790,578 1/1931 Foutz 123/41.15 1 FM March4J968 1,832,776 11/1931 Hudson 123/41.15 I 1 i 2,129,254 9/1938 Wood 123/41.15 [73] Asstgnee Saf-Gardlroducts, lnc. 3954,39 9/1962 Roche, |23I4L15 ""Pmmmmmma 3,096,748 7/1963 Harry..... 123/4115 2,537,694 1/1951 Oaks 123/4154 3,372,949 3/1968 McLay... 285/370 Primary Exan1iner--Mark M. Newman Attorney- Drummond,Cahill and Phillips [54] FLOW GUARD FOR MANIFOLD 1 Chim 4 Drawing Figs ABSTRACT: The invention is embodied in atransparent tube [521 U.S.Cl. 123141.15, mounted with sealing slip joints between two fittings in the 73/294, 123/4127, 123/4154, 285/93, 285/370 coolant water supply manifold of a diesel engine and wherein [51] Int. Cl. ..F01p 11/18, the bores of the tube and fittings are of identical inside diame- FOlp 1 1/02 ter with no turbulence creating obstructions. Intermediate op- [50] Field ol'Seareh 123/4101, posite ends of the tube is a sensor tube with a bent inside end 41.15: 73/294: 123/4127, 41.54, 52M, 52MV; 285/93, facing upstream and a spring resistant relief valve opening at 370 the exterior end of the sensor tube.

53 MW 58 27L 7 4-4 4'7 3' I I lI/I/I/I/I/I/ Q Patented Sept. 29, 1970 Wm. 512 A V254 INVENTOR.

FLOW GUARD FOR MANIFOLD The invention herein disclosed has reference to combustion engines of the diesel engine type and is one specifically directed to the handling of coolant water which flows from one cylinder head to another. Although the invention is especially advantageous for use in connection with diesel engine assemblies, its advantages can be enjoyed in other locations also, where there is need to pass coolant water from one location to another. In the conventional diesel type engine there are often three cylinder heads mounted in interconnected relationship. Each engine unit has a water jacket surrounding the cylinders through which water flows for cooling purposes. Common practice has been to provide exterior fittings, one for each cylinder head, the fittings being removably bolted to the respective cylinder head in spaced relationship in such fashion that a metal pipe can be employed to interconnect the fittings so that water can be passed from one cylinder head to another through the fittings.

The most commonly used metal pipe has been a relatively thin wall spun tubing section. The metal commonly used is steel. Such tubing sections heretofore have had outwardly facing annular recesses spun into the wall adjacent opposite ends for reception of a resilient annular seal. The depth of the annular recess in order to be effective has to be considerably greater than the normal wall thickness of the tubing section. This requires that there be an appreciable annular projection on the inside wall of the tube section adjacent each end. Tube sections formed in this way produce considerable turbulence in the flow of water at both fitting connections wherever a fitting is employed. Where there are three such fittings, as is usually the case, there are two such connectors and four connecting areas where appreciable turbulence and interference with the flow of cooling water takes place.

Further still because of the need for making these tubing sections of relatively thin gauge steel, they are prone to rust and to deteriorate rapidly in view of the character of the cooling water and sundry additives constantly present. Therefore, although the tube sections are relatively low in cost, they are an expensive portion of diesel enginemaintenace because everytime a tube deteriorates to the point where it must be replaced, the engine must be taken out of service and all the fittings removed and replaced in order to install new tube sections.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a new and improved tubular sleeve for use in handling coolant water for combustion engines which is easy to install and replace and which moreover is of such construction and character that it will serve for exceptionally long periods of time without need for replacement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved coolant water handling medium for combustion engines which promotes a very increased smoothness in the flow of coolant water, and which is usable with substantially conventional combustion engine fittings.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved coolant water equipment for such mechanisms as combustion engines which can be constructed of transparent synthetic plastic material whereby greatly increased life is enjoyed and whereby, in addition, the character of coolant water performance can be visually inspected at virtually any time and with minimum effort.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved nonmetallic tubular sleeve for interconnecting coolant water fittings for a combustion engine which, though of relatively thin wall construction, is adequately strong and which' additionally may be equipped with a lateral fitting connection for the mounting of auxiliary equipment such as a sensor tube, while continuing to enjoy all of the advantages of a coolant flow which is nonturbulent and a coolant water assembly system which has exceptionally long life.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claim and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a typical diesel type engine equipped with the coolant water system of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of one ofthe interconnecting elements.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of one end of the connection drawn to a slightly larger scale.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a second form ofjoint construction.

In the embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration there is shown a diesel engine indicated generally by the reference character 10, of substantially conventional construction, and which includes cylinder heads 11, 12 and 13. On the side of the engine selected for the purpose ofillustration an exhaust manifold 14 is shown connected to the respective sections 11, 12, and 13. In the chosen embodiment there may be presumed to be six cylinders having respective exhaust outlets 15, 16, l7, l8, l9, and 20.

Also serving the three cylinder heads are fittings 21, 22, and 23, the fittings 21, 22, and 23 being for the purpose of handling coolant water. The fitting 21 has two legs 24 and 25. The fitting 22 has legs 26 and 27, and the fitting 23 has legs 28 and 29.

Of particular moment is the spacing of the sundry fittings 21, 22, and 23 such that a connecting end 30 of the fitting 21 is in face-to-face spaced relationship with a connecting end 31 of the fitting 22. Similarly, a connecting end 32 on the opposite side of the fitting 22 is in face-to-face spaced relationship with a connecting end 33 of the fitting 23. A tubular sleeve 34 is interconnected between the connecting ends 30 and 31. A similar tubular sleeve 35 is interconnected between the connecting ends 32 and 33. In FIG. 2, by way of example, the tubular sleeve 34 is shown interconnected between the fittings 21 and 22.

In the connecting end 30 is an outwardly facing recess 36 in axial alignment with an opening 37 through which coolant water normally flows. The recess 36 forms a shoulder 38 between itselfand the opening 37. In a similar fashion a recess 39 is formed in the fitting 22 in axial alignment with the opening 40, there being a shoulder 41 formed between them. As shown, the openings 37 and 40 are in axial alignment.

The tubular sleeve 34 is made of an available synthetic plastic resilient material, preferably transparent, a typical acceptable material being clear polycarbonate, one of which is available on the market identified as General Electric Lexan No. 10] 1 [2. A bore 45 through the tubular sleeve 34 is sub stantially the same diameter as or slightly greater than both the opening 37 and the opening 40, so that a ferrule 58, when supplied, having an outer surface 47 in engagement with the bore 45 does not form an obstruction to the flow of liquid therethrough sufficient to create turbulence. The outside diameter of the tubular sleeve 34 is preferably slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the recesses 36 and 39, which provides adequate wall thickness. As the fittings 21 and 22 are mounted, the length of the tubular sleeve 34 is somewhat less than the distance between the shoulders 38 and 41. The clearance is not critical but should be adequate.

At each end of the tubular sleeve 34 is an outwardly facing annular recess 46 which is substantially rectangular in crosssection, as readily seen in FIG. 3. The recess 46 is spaced inwardly from respective ends 47 and 48 ofthe tubular sleeve at a distance preferably less than half of the depth of the recesses 36 and 39. In each of the annular recesses is a resilient O ring seal 49.

On the wall of the tubular sleeve 34, intermediate opposite ends 47 and 48, is an outwardly extending boss 50, the boss being an enlarged portion of the same material as thetubular sleeve. In the boss is a threaded opening 51. In the chosen embodiment a threaded plug 52 is mounted in the boss 50 in threaded engagement with the opening 51. A sensor tube has a long end 53 sealed in the plug 52 and a short end 54 in right angular relationship to the long end, the short end facing up stream of the tubular sleeve 34 at substantially its axial centerlinc. A conventional relief valve 55 having an outlet 55', or other appropriate pressure actuated device responsive to a pressure greater than normal pressure at which coolant water in the sleeve 34 is kept, may be mounted in communication with the sensor tube on the outer end of the plug 52. A ferrule 58 is located at the interior of each end of the sleeve 34 immediately beneath the recess 46 for reinforcement of the sleeve at this point, the interior of the sleeve having the same diameter as the opening 40.

In assembling the tubular sleeves in place the fittings 21, 22, and 23 are first removed. The rings are applied to the appropriate annular recesses at the ends of the tubular sleeves and the tubular sleeves inserted in the respective recesses at the connecting ends of the respective fittings. The fittings are then re-applied to their respective sections 11, 12, and 13 of the diesel engine block and appropriately secured in position. Some leeway is allowable since the O ring connections between the ends of the tubular sleeves and the fittings are not of close tolerance which permits a degree of misalignment during the remounting of the fittings without impairing the tightness of the joint. Clearances between ends of the tubular sleeves and the adjacent shoulders also provide for ease in handling during mounting. Once the fittings 21, 22, and 23 have been re-applicd, the respective tubular sleeves 34 and 35 are securely mounted in position in liquid-tight relationship. Clearances mentioned allow for expansion and contraction of mating parts. The transparent condition of the tubular sleeves permits visual inspection of coolant liquid flowing through them and the plastic character of the material of which they are made avoids rusting and related deterioration making it unnecessary for them to be removed for replacement for especially long periods of time. The bore 45, being uninterruptedly continuous from end to end, avoids all prospect of turbulence in the flow of coolant liquid from one fitting to another. This means that areated water in the coolant system is alleviated, which is frequently present when there is turbulence in the waterline. Absence of areated water assures among other things more continued effective performance of the water pump and appreciably improved cooling effect In the form of device of FIG. 4 a fitting 25 has a cylindrical interior and a sleeve 34 is provided with a matching recess 60. A shoulder 47' forming an end of the recess is adapted to abut an end face 38' of the fitting 25. A reduced portion 61 of the sleeve 47 accommodates an O ring seal 49. A ferrule 57 having a sloping portion 58' facing the flow of liquid provides a surface 59 past which liquid flows, the ferrule serving to reinforce the portion 61.

Iclaim:

1. In a combustion engine cooling system in which coolant is circulated among a plurality of cylinder heads provided with water jackets through a plurality of coolant fittings mounted on the cylinder heads with connection ends of adjacent fitting pairs disposed in face-to-face spaced relationship, said ends having axially aligned coolant openings and passages therein, the improvement in which:

A. said openings comprising the connection ends of said fittings are each provided with an annular outwardly facing recess forming a shoulder having square corners and in which coolant is conveyed between adjacent fittings through a tubular sleeve extending between each pair of connection ends disposed in face-to-face spaced relationship,

B. said sleeve comprising a transparent synthetic plastic resin material having a central bore of substantially the same diameter as the diameter of said passages and cylindrical end portions having an outside diameter only slightly less than the inside diameter of said outwardly facing recess, each said end portion having an outwardly facing annular recess, and an O ring in each said annular recess forming a slidable sealing connection between the respective fittings and the sleeve; and C. a radially outwardly extending boss disposed intermediate opposite ends of said sleeve, said boss having a threaded opening therethrough, a hollow plug in threaded engagement with said threaded opening, a sensor tube having a passage therethrough and a first end secured in said plug and opening outwardly of said plug, a second end of said sensor tube being open and facing upstream at substantially the center of said sleeve, and pressure responsive relief means on said plug in communication with said sensor tube and the interior of said sleeve. 

